‘Hit her on the bottom’: Sydney doctor’s nurse harassment exposed

An ICU doctor has admitted to actions that amounted to sexually harassing three nurses while working nightshift at a Sydney hospital.

EXCLUSIVE

A Sydney doctor who admitted to actions that amounted to sexually harassing three nurses while on night shift has been struck off from the profession for at least 12 months.

Muruga Balaji Kandasamy Mohan faced the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal this week after three female nurses came forward over his conduct while working as an ICU doctor at Strathfield Private Hospital.

Mr Mohan obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Madurai Medical College in India in 1995 before registering as a doctor in NSW in 2006.

He began working at Strathfield Private Hospital in 2009 before departing the hospital in September 2022.

The tribunal heard how in July 2022, Mr Mohan pulled one of the nurses by the wrist into a small medication room, pulled down her surgical mask, touched her lip with his thumb and told her she looked beautiful.

Mr Mohan’s registration has been cancelled for a minimum 12 months. Picture: Supplied

He will be eligible to reapply for registration in June next year. Picture: Supplied

On another occasion, he pulled the same nurse into a “darkened room” by her waist, before asking where she lived, how far her house was from the hospital and if he could see a “picture of her house on her mobile telephone.”

The tribunal heard how the incident left her “shaking and scared” and “quite traumatised”.

“She asked other nurses on her shift not to leave her alone with [Mr Mohan],” the tribunal heard.

In 2021 – over a three to four month period -Mr Mohan asked another nurse to show him “sexy pictures” on her phone about five times and told her she was “beautiful and sexy”.

The tribunal heard how the conduct occurred during night shifts when minimal staff were on the hospital floor. Picture: Alamy

He also massaged her shoulders on “approximately five occasions”.

“She said that when [Mr Mohan] massaged her shoulders she told him she would report him and, on another occasion, told him that his conduct was unprofessional,” the tribunal heard.

“[The nurse] said that [Mr Mohan] would “laugh off” her comments.”

The tribunal heard the third nurse said Mr Mohan would make sexual comments to her and would “hit her on the bottom as she went past” while working at the hospital in 2018 and 2019.

Mr Mohan left the hospital in September 2022. Picture: Alamy

“Because of the power imbalance between doctors and nurses … she did not make a complaint,” the tribunal heard.

In a statement read out by the tribunal, Mr Mohan admitted to his behaviour and called it “unacceptable”.

He told the tribunal he believed the acts would be taken “as a compliment”.

The tribunal panel cancelled Mr Mohan’s registration, banning him from applying for re-registration for 12 months.

“The Respondent’s conduct was an abuse of power,” the tribunal decision stated.

“The complained of conduct was situational, that is the Respondent took advantage of the relatively isolated circumstances of night shift in a hospital ward. His conduct was deliberate.”

Mr Mohan was previously a part owner of the Northwest Medical Centre in NSW until November 2024. He was also part owner of Churchill Family Practice in Victoria until May 2025, however, now has no financial interests in any general practices.

After leaving Strathfield Private Hospital in September 2022, Mr Mohan was working one day per week in a general practice in Sydney.

Originally published as ‘Hit her on the bottom’: Sydney doctor’s nurse harassment exposed